Condenser



May 12, 1 931.

P. A. BANCEL CONDENSER Filed Sept. 18. 1929 Pa: h L-Bancc-Z." By

INVENTOR.

117,5 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 12, 1931 PAUL A. BANCEL, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORTO INGERSOLL-BAND COM- PANY, OF JEREMY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATIONOF NEW JERSEY CONDENSER Application filed September 18, 1929. Serial No.393,435.

This invention relates to condensers, but more particularly to the waterbox of a condenser of the surface type.

It has been found that in certain condensers, as for instance,condensers of the horizontal type, the tubes leading from the uppermostregions of the waterboxes are more readily subjected to corrosion thanare those leading from lower levels. This is in large part due to thefroth created by the air which becomes separated from the cooling waterand accumulates in the uppermost portion of the inlet water box. Whencarried into the tubes, the tubes become corrod- 'cd and pitted, thusgreatly shortening the life thereof and in some instances quicklyreducing them to a condition which necessitates replacements after acomparatively short period of usage.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to prevent the airentrained from separating from the water and to convey the air throughthe tubes in minute cells or bubbles. In this way the accumulation ofair and the consequent corrosive effect on the tubes-will be eliminated.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

In the drawings illustrating the invention and in which similarreference characters refer to similar parts,

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a portion of acondenser constructed in accordance with the practice of the invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse view taken through Figure l on the line 2-2looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified form of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings, represents a casing of a condenser havinganinlet opening B through which the steam may enter the casing A. Aclosure is provided for the end of the casing A by a tube sheet C whichsupports one end of tubes D extending through the casing A andtransversely of the steam flow.

The tube sheet C in the present instance also serves as a closure forone side of a water box E which may be secured to the casing A in anysuitable manner. The water intended to be supplied to the cooling tubesD is introduced into the water boX E through a pair of inlet openings Fand G preferably located near the bottom of the water box E and, whichas is customary, are of smaller area than the water box in accordancewith the practice of the invention means are provided for assuring thedelivery of water to all the tubes at substantially the same velocity asthat of the water flowing from the inlet openings F and G into the waterbox E. The means provided for this purpose comprises a pair of bellies Hand J spaced from and curved to substantially correspond to thecurvature of the side wall'of the water box E to form passages K'and Lwhich, in effect, are continuations of the inlet openings F and G andextend upwardly through the water box E.

In cross-sectional area the passages K and L should preferably closelyapproach the areas of the inlet openings F and G so that the initialvelocity of the water may be substantially maintained during its upwardcourse through the passages.

The baflies H and J may terminate a suflicient distance below theuppermost Wall of water box so that the space between this wall and theends of the baliies will readily permit the passage of the waterreaching the upper ends of the passages K and L.

By suitably spacing the baiiies H and J a space or passage G will existtherebetween to guide the merging streams of water lSSU".

ing from the passages K and L in a downwardly direction to supply thetubes D,

which communicate with the water box E at points between the baliiesHand J.

At the uppermost or inlet end of the passage 0 the baffles H and J maybe suitably spaced to readily accommodate all the Water flowing over thebaffles. As the water flows downwardly through the passage O, however,the volume thereof will be gradually reducedby the amount conveyedthrough the condenser by the tubes lying in the upper region of thecondenser. The

balfles H and J may therefore be disposed in such wise that the areatherebetween will be gradually reduced in a downwardly direction. x

Obviously, in COIICJSHSGIS in which the tubes are closely grouped itwould be impractical to so form the baflles that no portion thereoioverlapped the inlet opening of any of the tubes. In order therefore toenable battles of practical terms to be used said baflles may be spaceda slight distance from the tube sheet so that water will only how overthe upper ends of the baflles but will also readily flow between theside edges of the baflles and the tube sheet. This arrangement willassure an abundant supply of water to those tubes which may have theirinlet opening in the same longitudinal planes as the battles.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 3, the water box Eis provided with only one inlet opening F arranged in this instance theextreme bottom of the water box. in the construction shown a pair ofbattles P and Q form a continuation of the inlet opening F so that thewater entering the inlet opening F will first flow upwardly through thepassage R formed by the battles P and to the ex treme upper end of thewater box E. There the water will be divided into two streams by theupper wall of the water box and will then flow downwardly between thebaflles P and Q and the side walls of the water box. The baflle's P andQ may be so arranged relatively to the side walls that the passageswhich they form will gradually diminish in area in the direction of theends toward which the water flows.

By means of the present invention the velocity of the water flowingthrough the water box E may be prevented from falling below that of theentrance. velocity of the water at any point throughout the water box.It is obvious therefore that any air entrained by the water will beprevented. from separating from the water and from accumulating in anyportion of the water box to create the undesirable condition which thepresent invention contemplates eliminating.

I claim:

1. A condenser, comprising a water box having an inlet opening, tubescommunicating with the water box, and means in the water box forming aplurality of communicating passages therein to assure against a widevariation between the velocity of the water at the inlet opening and thevelocity at which it flows through the water box.

' v2. A condenser, comprising a water box having an inlet opening, tubescommunicating with the water box, and means in the water box formingcommunicating dividing the water box into a plurality of communicatingpassages.

5. A condenser, comprising a water box having an inlet opening, tubescommunicating with the water box, and baflies in the water box forming aseries of communicating paths through the water box to assure a uniformvelocity of the water flowing thercthrough and thus assure against theseparation of air from the water and the formation of air pockets in thewater box.

6. A condenser, comprising a water box havin an inlet opening of smallerarea than the water box, tubes communicating with the water b x andmeans in the water box to form a continuation of the inlet openingthrough the water box and to prevent a reduction in the velocity of thewater flowing through the water box below the entrance velocity of thewater.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

' PAUL A. BANCEL.

